How to file for divorce in San Francisco (2026)

Step 1: Confirm residency requirements

Before you file a single form, you need to meet California's residency threshold. You or your spouse must have lived in California for at least six months and in San Francisco County for at least three months immediately before filing.

If you recently moved to San Francisco and haven't yet met the three-month county requirement, you can still prepare your documents and file the moment you qualify. Time spent living in another California county does count toward the six-month state requirement.

Step 2: Choose your filing path

As of January 1, 2026, California offers two ways to start your divorce. The path you choose affects your forms, your fees, and how the early stages of your case unfold.

The traditional petition (Form FL-100)

One spouse files as Petitioner using Form FL-100 and Summons (Form FL-110). After filing, the other spouse must be formally served: either through a process server or a friend or family member who is at least 18. The respondent then has 30 days to file a response (Form FL-120, another $450 in San Francisco). This path works for all situations, including cases where the spouses disagree on terms or where one party is unresponsive.

The 2026 joint petition (Form FL-700, under SB 1427)

This is the most significant change to California divorce law in decades. Under SB 1427, couples who agree, or plan to agree, on all issues can file a single joint petition together. Both spouses sign Form FL-700 as Petitioner 1 and Petitioner 2. Because you're filing together, formal service of process is eliminated entirely.

For a deeper look at the difference between these two options, see Hello Divorce's guide to uncontested divorce in California, which covers the joint petition alongside other cooperative divorce paths.

Step 3: Complete your financial disclosures

Every California divorce requires financial disclosures, regardless of which filing path you use. This is California's mechanism for making sure both spouses make informed decisions about property, debt, and support. There are two rounds.

Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure

The Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure (FL-140 series) must be served on your spouse within 60 days of filing. This package includes a Schedule of Assets and Debts (FL-142) and an Income and Expense Declaration (FL-150). You serve this on your spouse; you do not file it with the court. This disclosure cannot be waived under California law.

Final Declaration of Disclosure

A second, updated round of disclosures is required before the court enters a final judgment. Spouses who fully agree on terms may, in limited circumstances, sign a written waiver of the final disclosure using Form FL-144. When in doubt, exchange the disclosures anyway: courts take financial transparency seriously and can set aside a judgment that was entered without complete disclosure.

Documents to gather before you file

Starting this process early makes everything faster. Pull together recent tax returns, pay stubs, bank and investment account statements, mortgage or lease documents, retirement account statements, and any business records. For San Francisco couples with equity in tech companies, restricted stock units, or stock options, making sure vesting schedules and grant agreements are included is especially important. Hello Divorce's guide to California mandatory financial disclosures walks through every form in detail.

Step 4: File at the San Francisco Unified Family Court

All family law dissolution cases in San Francisco are handled by the Unified Family Court (UFC), located at the Civic Center Courthouse. The clerk's office in Room 402 accepts filings Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to the close of business, though hours are subject to change, so check the court's website before you go.

When you arrive, bring your completed original forms plus two photocopies of each. All forms must be double hole-punched at the top. The clerk will stamp your originals, keep them, and return your two copies: one set for your records and one set for service on your spouse (if filing traditionally). San Francisco courts require e-filing for dissolution cases, so confirm whether your submission method is in person or through the court's electronic system.

The date the clerk stamps your forms is the official filing date. This is the date from which your six-month waiting period begins and the date from which your 60-day disclosure deadline is counted.

Steps 5 through 7: Serve, wait, and finalize

Step 5: Serve your spouse (or skip it entirely with the joint petition

If you filed a traditional petition, you must formally serve your spouse with a stamped copy of the petition, summons, and any other filed documents, along with a blank Response form (FL-120). Service must be completed by someone who is at least 18 and not a party to the case. After service, the server files a Proof of Service (FL-115) with the court.

If you filed a joint petition under SB 1427, service is not required. You already filed together. This alone can save hundreds of dollars and weeks of logistical stress.

Step 6: Wait out the mandatory six-month period

California requires a minimum six-month waiting period from the date of filing before a divorce can be finalized. This period cannot be waived or shortened by a judge, even if both spouses are in complete agreement. Use this time productively: negotiate your Marital Settlement Agreement, finalize your financial disclosures, and address any custody or support terms. For San Francisco couples dividing community property, including stock options, tech equity, or real estate, this window is also when you'll want to engage a financial analyst familiar with California community property rules.

Step 7: Submit your judgment and finalize

Once the six-month waiting period has passed and all terms are agreed upon, you submit a Judgment (Form FL-180) along with your Marital Settlement Agreement and any required attachments. If the court approves, a judge signs the judgment and your divorce is final. In an uncontested case, this is often handled by mail, with no court appearance required. For a complete picture of what the divorce process looks like from filing to final judgment, see Hello Divorce's California divorce process guide.

Frequently asked questions about filing for divorce in San Francisco

San Francisco court resources for divorce filers

The following official resources will help you verify current filing fees, confirm courthouse hours, and access required forms directly from the San Francisco Superior Court and California's statewide self-help system.

• San Francisco Unified Family Court: official division page
• San Francisco Superior Court self-help: divorce, separation, and annulment
• San Francisco local rules of court (updated January 2026)
• Form FL-700: Joint Petition for Dissolution (new January 2026)
• California Courts Self-Help: joint petition for divorce (SB 1427)
• California Courts Self-Help: Divorce (statewide)

References & further reading

Sources cited in this article and recommended for further reading.

1. 1. Judicial Council of California. "Joint petition for divorce or legal separation": Official self-help instructions for the new SB 1427 joint petition process, including Form FL-700 and step-by-step guidance. Judicial Council of California, January 2026. Accessed March 2026.
2. 2. San Francisco Superior Court. "Divorce, Separation, and Annulment": Official San Francisco court page covering filing location, fee waiver procedures, and local filing requirements. Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. Accessed March 2026.
3. 3. San Francisco Superior Court. "Unified Family Court": Official UFC page including courthouse address, clerk hours, mediation information, and Family Court Services contact details. Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco. Accessed March 2026.
4. 4. Hello Divorce. "Mandatory financial disclosures in California": Explains the FL-140 series, what to include, deadlines, and consequences of non-compliance. hellodivorce.com. Accessed March 2026.